Alcohol Merchant Account

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US & Canada Merchant Accounts

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2-5 Day Approval

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24-48 Hour Funding

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Guaranteed Lowest Rates*

Accept Alcohol Payments TODAY!

NEED AN ALCOHOL MERCHANT ACCOUNT?

If you are a business that deals in alcohol then you need a merchant account. It’s as simple as that. While some alcohol merchants fear rejection for something so critical, it is best to be as honest as possible when applying for merchant services – even knowing you may be rejected based on industry alone. It’s always better to work with providers that want your business than those who aren’t really equipped to deal with your type of business.

Chances are that you will be identified immediately or rather early in your alcohol business as a high risk merchant. This means that there are some merchant processing services that will not be willing to work with you.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the fact that you need to be able a payment processor. For high risk credit card processing there are some merchant account providers that stand high above others. You don’t even need to engage in eCommerce to qualify for these high risk merchant accounts. Easy Pay Direct offers real solutions for payment processing to businesses that have been labeled “high risk,” by offering a quality alternative to traditional high risk payment processing providers.

ALCOHOL PAYMENTS BACKGROUND

Businesses that serve alcohol in addition to other items or as the bulk of their sales, including restaurants that serve alcohol, are often identified as high-risk businesses in the world of merchant services.

There are many reasons for this but the bottom line for business owners is that it creates roadblocks in their efforts to secure merchant services and, sometimes, forces them to face increased scrutiny and higher costs associated with merchant services that allow them to process payments via credit card and more.

An alcohol merchant account is essential for these businesses to compete with their competitors, in the alcohol and spirits industry, that do accept credit card payments. The challenge is to find merchant account providers, like Easy Pay Direct, that understand the unique payment processing needs of alcohol merchants and delivers exceptional merchant services that meet those needs – including high risk payment processing.

 

WHY IS IT HIGH RISK?

The alcohol and spirits industry covers a lot of ground. It isn’t limited to brick and mortar stores, though they certainly represent a large segment of businesses within this industry. It also extends to winery operations, microbreweries, restaurants, cafes, and similar businesses.

While alcohol sales have traditionally occurred in person (in stores, restaurants, etc.), there has been greater latitude, in recent months, for conducting alcohol sales for carryout, drive-thru, and curbside services. Some businesses are even conducting eCommerce alcohol sales – pending age verification at point of pickup, of course.

Though it’s important to point out that businesses in the alcohol and spirits industry generally must verify identification to permit alcohol sales, they are still considered high risk when it comes to merchant services. Despite this, risks, such as making sales to underaged individuals, is high and many traditional merchant service providers are reluctant to work with businesses that conduct alcohol sales, especially those that do so via the Internet.

 

DID YOUR PROCESSOR SHUT DOWN YOUR ALCOHOL MERCHANT ACCOUNT?

Whether you’ve only recently expanded your inventory to include alcohol sales or you somehow made it past initial sensors related to alcohol industry sales and services, there is always a risk that a provider like this can shut down your merchant account. This means you can be left completely in the lurch without any means of processing payments for orders conducted for your business.

How common is it that banks and other organizations shut down alcohol merchant accounts? Common enough that alcohol businesses are consistently listed among the top five industries listed as high risk merchant accounts.

Fortunately, you do have options that are not only widely available, but that also offer fast and easy approval so you can be up and running, and able to accept credit card payments, quickly.

 

WHY?

We have all heard stories about merchant accounts getting shut down by PayPal, Stripe, Square or any old merchant account provider. If you have not, I would suggest googling “merchant account shutdown” and seeing the millions of results that pop up. This is a very common occurrence that, to avoid, you must understand.

The primary reason that merchant accounts get shut down is that 99% of merchant account providers do very little underwriting which means they do not know anything about you or your business. Take PayPal, Stripe and Square for example. They are what we call an aggregator. They get this name because they let millions of people use one giant, shared merchant account. It takes seconds to be one of those millions because they do no underwriting. This means that if they have any sign of risk from you their only option is to hold or freeze your money or shut down your merchant account. They know nothing about you or your business so how could they know that you are high risk and account for that.

Not all merchant account providers are aggregators but most operate on the same logic. This is why underwriting is crucial for high risk merchants seeking merchant services.

HOW EASY PAY DIRECT IS DIFFERENT

At Easy Pay Direct we understand something that these providers do not. We understand that it is in your best interest to pair you up with a high risk merchant account providers that take the time to know who you are and understand your business. We also understand the fact that your alcohol business is your life and you depend on it to feed your family, pay the bills, compensate your employees, etc…

If your merchant account is shut down, the fate of your responsibilities hangs in the balance and it can leave you feeling helpless. If this has happened to you, the good news is that you are on the first step to never worry about this again. Easy Pay Direct is the complete solution to your high risk credit card processing needs. We can get you set up with a provider that wants to work with you and a new high risk alcohol merchant account that suits your needs in as little as 2 days!

HOW DO I SET UP AN ALCOHOL MERCHANT ACCOUNT?

If you need a credit card processing solution for your alcohol business, Easy Pay direct has got you covered. We’re here to make things easier! Setting up a stable alcohol merchant account is quick and easy with the Easy Pay Direct application.

Once you’ve filled out our quickly online application, our New Client Specialists will finalize your alcohol merchant account.
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Feel free to call us on your time: (800) 805-4949

 

DOES BEING HIGH RISK AFFECT YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A ALCOHOL MERCHANT ACCOUNT?

All Merchant account providers worry about their liability when it comes to working with any business. They do not want to be responsible for chargebacks, disputes, and fraud. A chargeback/dispute is when a consumer goes to their bank and tells them they want their money back for a purchase. What usually happens is their bank gives the consumer their money back but the merchant is responsible for repaying it. However, if the merchant is out of business or does not have the funds to do this, the merchant account provider becomes responsible for paying back the disputed transaction. The industries that are more likely to encounter this are then classified as high risk industries.

Now take into account the fact that a lot of these industries are in the ecommerce space and need to process card not present (CNP) transactions. The likelihood of fraud is much higher for these types of transactions. Slowly, you start to realize why providers need to reduce their liability. Most merchant account providers do this by implementing a hold or reserve to ensure that they have some of the high risk merchant’s money stashed away in case of these events. On the other hand, some providers will just shut down or freeze your account, stopping your ability to process payments or access your money.

 

THE RESULT

Being high risk can slightly affect your ability to get an alcohol merchant account because there are many merchant account providers that refuse to work with high risk businesses. But, where it really can hurt you is if you choose the wrong payment processor because that leads to problems like holds, freezes and shut downs.

To avoid this you need to look for a high risk merchant account provider that takes the time to underwrite your business so they understand your business model and want to work with you. That way nothing is a surprise and they have no reason to hold, freeze or shutdown accounts. Luckily, Easy Pay Direct makes this as easy as possible by applying, on your behalf, to merchant account providers that want to work with high risk businesses.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

There’s no denying that designation as a high risk merchant can make it more difficult for you to get approval by the typical merchant processing service. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though. In fact, you might discover that by working with a payment processor that specializes in working with high risk businesses (Easy Pay Direct), like your alcohol business, your problems with evaporate. As they make getting accepted for a high risk merchant account, easy. Other things you can do to improve your chances include:

    • Make a concerted effort to reduce the number of chargebacks, disputes, and fraud complaints your business receives (if you have them).
    • Be willing to establish higher cash reserves on behalf of your business (may not be necessary with the right provider).
    • Make a substantial security deposit for your merchant account (may not be necessary with the right provider).
    • Prepare to show a history of stability in your industry and as a business when dealing with payment processing services in the past.

HOW CAN EASY PAY DIRECT HELP WITH ALCOHOL MERCHANT PROCESSING?

We’ve cultivated relationships with many high risk merchant account providers so we can help you find that “just right” fit with one that will work for and with you. Additionally, we offer advice, tips, and strategies to help you avoid chargebacks and fraud complaints so you can reduce your “high risk” status among some merchant account providers.

Finally, we offer our unique “transaction routing” service through our state of the art online payment gateway. This will automatically distribute your sales across all of your merchant accounts. This way, if one of your accounts were to shut down, you automatically have accounts up and running to take its place. Lastly, Easy Pay Direct will assign you your very own Certified Payment Specialist that will monitor your accounts for you and give you one point of contact for all merchant services.

WHY EASY PAY DIRECT?

We pride ourselves on making your life easier and facilitating the growth of business across the globe. We have been doing this successfully for years and have helped countless businesses achieve their full potential, just check out some of our testimonials. More importantly, Easy Pay Direct would love to play it’s part in helping you achieve your goals and service your consumers smoothly. if you’re interested in working with us, you can start your EMAP  application below or call us at: (800) 805-4949 | Get Set-up with a Merchant Account »

Apply Now

Alcohol Merchant Account FAQ

Do I need an alcohol merchant account to sell alcohol?
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Yes, if you want to accept credit card payments for alcohol sales, you will need to set up an alcohol merchant account.

Is it difficult to get approved for an alcohol merchant account?
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It can be more challenging to get approved for an alcohol merchant account compared to a regular merchant account, as there are additional compliance requirements and higher risk for chargebacks. However, as long as you have a well-established business and can demonstrate a good credit history, it is possible to get approved.

Are there any additional fees associated with an alcohol merchant account?
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There may be additional fees associated with an alcohol merchant account, such as higher processing fees or a higher monthly account fee. It’s important to carefully review the terms and fees of any merchant account before signing up.

Can I use a regular merchant account to sell alcohol?
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Technically, you can use a regular merchant account to sell alcohol. However, you may be at risk of having your account suspended or terminated if you do not disclose that you are selling alcohol.

What is the process for setting up an alcohol merchant account?
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To set up an alcohol merchant account, you will need to apply with a merchant account provider and provide documentation about your business, such as your business license and credit history. The provider will review your application and determine whether to approve you for an account.

EASY PAY DIRECT STATS

30000+

BUSINESS

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PROCESSSED

20+

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Merchant Accounts FAQ

If you want to know more about payments, pricing, or solutions to problems you are experiencing, we are always ready to help you.

What industries does Easy Pay Direct work with?
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Easy Pay Direct specializes in high risk payment processing but we also work with mid risk and low risk companies.

Here is a short list of some business verticals we service:

  • Antiques & Collectibles
  • Apparel & Clothing
  • Bad Credit
  • Bus Lines
  • Cannabis Support Businesses
  • Caterers
  • CBD Oil & CBD Products
  • Continuity Products and Subscription Boxes
  • Credit Repair
  • Credit Monitoring
  • Debt Collection
  • Digital Streaming
  • Document Preparation
  • Fantasy Sports
  • Firearms & Ammunition
  • Furniture & Home Furnishings
  • Health & Beauty
  • Hotels & Lodging
  • Insurance / Warranty
  • Legal Services
  • Magazine Subscriptions
  • Medical Billing & Coding
  • Medical Supplies
  • Membership & Recurring Billing
  • MLM Companies
  • Transportation & Moving
  • Non-Profit
  • Nutraceuticals
  • Pawnbrokers & Pawn Shops
  • Pet Products
  • Precious Metals
  • Property Management
  • SaaS Companies
  • Seminars & Coaching
  • SEO / SEM / Ad Agency
  • Smoking Accessories
  • Sports Betting
  • Survivalist & Tactical Gear
  • Telemedicine
  • Tobacco & Cigar
  • Travel & Timeshare
  • Vape / e-Cig / eJuice
  • Veterinarians
  • Web Design & Development

Why is my business considered high risk?
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“High Risk” is a banking industry term. It’s important to note that there are many business models that are seemingly low risk, but fall into the high risk category.

There is nothing wrong with being considered high risk and there are many factors that contribute to risk.

When a consumer buys an item with a credit card, they are given 6 months from the date of receiving the item to dispute the charge.

If your business is no longer operating, who do you think has to refund that money? The processor. This is where risk is created.

Certain businesses, marketing models, and industries have a higher rate of chargebacks, where they get labeled as high risk.

Even if your business is perfect, has never had a chargeback, and operates 100% “by the books”, you could be labeled high risk if you’re business or industry falls into a high risk category.

There are 3 main reasons a business can be considered high risk.

  1. The business has a greater chance of chargebacks occurring
  2. The business model may be new or legally regulated
  3. The business accepts a high number of card not present transactions (over the phone, email, eCommerce)

Do you provide merchant account services outside of the USA?
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At this time Easy Pay Direct offers merchant account services for the USA and Canada. We are always working to expand our areas of processing and hope to serve a greater area in the near future.

Can my startup or new business be approved?
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We have worked with many new brands and start-ups to get them approved and running. However, banks like to see a long history of transactions and an established history with a merchant before approving them.

But, that does not mean we can’t get you approved. Reach out to us today and we will walk you through your options.

How long does it take to get approved for a merchant account?
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Once all of the necessary documents have been received, it typically takes 1-4 days to get approved.

Occasionally accounts can be approved in less than 24 hours, our team will work as quickly as possible to get your account up and running.